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As the average age of the global population steadily increase, a US safety panel is considering road safety recommendations to deal with more older drivers on its roads.
The number of US drivers 65 and older will, according to a Bloomberg report, increase from 15 percent to around 20 percent by 2025.
To address this, the US National Transportation Safety Board for the first time in its 40-year history is hosting a forum on older drivers and the safety issues concerning them.
The chairperson of the agency tasked with delivering safety information, Deborah Hersman, said the NTSB would recommend new car, road and road sign designs, or increased test requirements for older drivers. Dementia is a particular concern.
Older drivers reportedly have decreased cognitive function, vision and physical abilities and Hersman said US drivers aged 65 and older are more likely to die, or be seriously injured, in crashes than younger people.
While these drivers tend to wear their seat belts more often and limit driving to when conditions are safest, the question remains, though: who decides when it’s a good idea for the elderly to hand over their car keys?
Should it be a personal decision, with drivers allowed to “self-regulate”, or should the decision be left to legislators? Tell us what you think in our forum discussion.
The number of US drivers 65 and older will, according to a Bloomberg report, increase from 15 percent to around 20 percent by 2025.
To address this, the US National Transportation Safety Board for the first time in its 40-year history is hosting a forum on older drivers and the safety issues concerning them.
The chairperson of the agency tasked with delivering safety information, Deborah Hersman, said the NTSB would recommend new car, road and road sign designs, or increased test requirements for older drivers. Dementia is a particular concern.
Older drivers reportedly have decreased cognitive function, vision and physical abilities and Hersman said US drivers aged 65 and older are more likely to die, or be seriously injured, in crashes than younger people.
While these drivers tend to wear their seat belts more often and limit driving to when conditions are safest, the question remains, though: who decides when it’s a good idea for the elderly to hand over their car keys?
Should it be a personal decision, with drivers allowed to “self-regulate”, or should the decision be left to legislators? Tell us what you think in our forum discussion.
